noun plural but singular or plural in constructionEtymology: from plural of obsolete mump grimaceDate: 1598
an acute contagious virus disease caused by a paramyxovirus (species Mumps virus of the genus Rubulavirus) and marked by fever and by swelling especially of the parotid gland

mumps — /mumps/, n. (used with a sing. v.) Pathol. an infectious disease characterized by inflammatory swelling of the parotid and usually other salivary glands, and sometimes by inflammation of the testes or ovaries, caused by a paramyxovirus. [1590… … Universalium

mumps — the illness, is usually treated as a singular noun (Mumps is common in young children), and is sometimes used informally or locally with the • (This morning I had a chat with one of the girls who has been off sick with the mumps Evening Gazette,… … Modern English usage

mumps — (n.) type of contagious disease, c.1600, from plural of mump a grimace (1590s), originally a verb, to whine like a beggar (1580s), from Du. mompen to cheat, deceive, originally probably to mumble, whine, of imitative origin. The infectious… … Etymology dictionary